Enabling research-to-policy dialogue for adaptation to climate change in Africa
Research and Policies for Climate Change Adaptation in the West AfricaUrban Sector SUMMARY Maruf Sanni, Abdulai Jalloh, and Aliou Diouf Acknowledgement This review was undertaken under the auspices of the AfricaInteract project funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). About AfricaInteract: AfricaInteract is a platform enabling research-to-policy dialogue for adaptation to climate change among a broad range of African stakeholders in sub-Saharan Africa. These include civil society, researchers, policy-makers, donors, and the private sector working on adaptation to climate change in the agriculture and health sectors as well as urban areas with water and gender as cross cutting issues. The overall objective of AfricaInteract is to develop a platform for the effective and efficient transfer of information to policy makers, with the ultimate aim of enhancing the resilience of vulnerable populations. AfricaInteract is funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and coordinated by the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD) under the auspices of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). The regional focus of AfricaInteract is based on the Regional Economic Communities in the four sub regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Focal organizations coordinating regional activities are as follows: The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa (ASARECA) – East Africa; Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) – Southern Africa; 1
Commission des Forets d’Afrique Centrale (COMIFAC) – Central Africa; and Energie-Environnement et Developpment (Enda) – West Africa. About CORAF/WECARD: The West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD) is a constituent of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, and comprising 22 National Agricultural Research Systems in West and Central Africa. CORAF/WECARD’s mission is “Sustainable improvements to the competitiveness, productivity and markets of the agricultural system in West and Central Africa by meeting the key demands of the sub-regional research system as expressed by target groups” with strong alignment and commitment to the overall goal of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. www.coraf.org
Research and Policies for Climate Change Adaptation in the West AfricaUrban Sector SUMMARY Maruf Sanni1, Abdulai Jalloh2, Aliou Diouf3 2
1
National Centre for Technology Management, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria 2 Programme Manager Natural Resources management Programme Conseil Ouest et Centre Africain pour la Recherche et le DĂŠveloppement Agricoles/West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD), 7 Avenue Bourguiba, BP 48, cp 18523 Dakar, Senegal 3 Programme Officer Climate change, Natural resource management, Rural and urban development Enda Energie-Environnement-DĂŠveloppement, 54 rue Carnot, BP 3370 Dakar, Senegal
Acronyms and Abbreviations AAS ACMAD ATPS CAPA CSAG ECOWAS GEF ICTP IDRC IPCC NACETEM NAPA NGO START UNFCCC
African Academy of Sciences African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development African Technology Policy Studies City Adaptation Programme of Action Climate System Analysis Group of the University of Cape Town Economic Community of West African States Global Environment Facility International Centre for Theoretical Physics International Development Research Centre Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change National Centre for Technology Management National Adaptation Programme of Action Non-governmental organisation Global Change System for Analysis, Research and Training United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 3
UNDP UNEP UN-HABITAT
United Nations Development Programme United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Human Settlements Programme
Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................ 3 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 4 2. Overview of the West Africa Urban Sector........................................................................................... 5 3. Research Related to Climate Change in the West Africa Urban Sector................................................ 6 4. Policies related to Climate Change in the West Africa Urban Areas .................................................... 8 4.1 Climate change adaptation policy initiatives in West African cities ............................................. 8 4.2 Policy actors and networks involved in urban climate change adaptation in West Africa .......... 8 5. Gaps in Climate Change Adaptation Research and Policy in the ......................................................... 9 West Africa Urban Sector.............................................................................................................................. 9 6. Stakeholders and Opportunities for Collaboration in Research ......................................................... 11 on Climate Change in the West Africa Urban Sector .................................................................................. 11 7. Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................................................... 12 7.1 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 12 7.2 Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... 13
1.
Introduction
Over half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas (Buhaug and Urdal 2012) and this global trend is evident in many parts of West Africa. Scientific evidence suggests that global climate change will have considerable implications for urban areas in West Africa. Some of the key climate-related hazards and trends observed include heat waves, rising sea levels and increased incidence of extreme events (Feiden 2011). Analyses of rainstorms on Lagos Island between 1971 and 1995 show that in the recent years, 1996–2005, rainstorms were heavier, although the numbers of rain days per annum had decreased (Adelekan 2010). Many of the impacts of climate change are projected to significantly affect cities such as Port Harcourt, Lagos, Cotonou, Lome, Accra, Abidjan, Monrovia, Freetown, Conakry and Dakar, located along the coasts of West Africa where populations, capita assets and economic activities are already at risk (Jalloh et al. 2011; Dodman and Satterthwaite 2008; Nicholls 2004). The impact of climate change and its complexity and scope require city authorities, governments, and stakeholders to collaborate to find innovative ways to manage the challenge 4
of climate change. With increasing scientific knowledge on global climate change, adaptationbecomes a major instrument in reducing the socio-economic costs of climate change and poverty in Africa (GLCA 2009),particularly in cities where the success of social and economic policies is crucial (World Bank 2010). With support from IDRC, this review was commissioned by AfricaInteract and CORAF/WECARD (the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development), to enhance the knowledge base of researchers and to support research-based policy formulation for climate change adaptation in urban areas in West Africa. The reviewidentified gaps and research and policies in climate change adaptation andmapped out climate change adaptation policy process, as well as how research informed policy formulation for climate adaptation in the urban areas of West Africa. In conducting this review, answers were sought to the following key questions. 1. What is the role of climate change in the context of the multiple challenges and opportunities facing urban areas in the sub-region? 2. What is the current state of knowledge on adaptation to climate change in urban areas in the region? 3. What is the current state of knowledge on whether and how research findings are integrated in urban area policies in the region? 4. What are the major gaps in research on adaptation to climate change in urban areas? 5. What is needed to ensure that research findings are better integrated into urban area policies? 6. What is the current state of knowledge on the stakeholders involved with research and policy on adaptation to climate change in urban areas in the region, and how can stakeholder involvement be improved? This publication is a Summary of the main report published by CORAF/WECARD and Future Agricultures.
2.
Overview of the West Africa Urban Sector
With a population of over 250m people and an estimated land area of 5m km², West Africa’s population is growing at an average annual growth rate of 3 percent (OHCHR 2011). Projections show that the population of the sub-region could reach 430m by 2020 (Cour 2001). Many West African countries have a very young population, with over 40 percent of inhabitants fewer than 15 years of age (Hiraldo 2011). 5
According to Africapolis (2009), urbanization rates in West Africa range from 16 percent in Niger to 46 percent in Senegal. The countries in the West African region vary widely in population size, from Cape Verde’s 500,000 to Nigeria’s over 170m people. Another characteristic of urbanization in this region is the difference between the coastal and landlocked countries. Seven coastal and four landlocked countries have urbanization rates close to or above 40 percent and below 25 percent, respectively. The dynamics of urbanization has changed dramatically since the 1950s. For example, in the 1950s Liberia and Guinea had low urbanization rates while Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau were the most urbanized (Hitimana et al. 2011). This trend has changed in recent times. With economic growth rates of 5 percent in several countries and less political volatility, the urbanization dynamic and its associated transformations are expected to continue into the future (Hitimana et al. 2011).
3. Research Related to Climate Change in the West Africa Urban Sector The West African climate has undergone marked variability of climatic events. For example, there was a wet period between 1930 and 1960, followed by the drought of 1970–1980 and the return of rainfall in the 1990s and 2000s (Perret 2008). These events increase the level of exposure of people in West Africa to climate change risks. According to IPCC, projected impacts of climate change in West Africa include rising temperatures, rising sea levels and changes in the variability of rainfall (Parry et al. 2007). Climate change could impact on economic activities in the coastal cities of West Africa in various ways, for example, damage infrastructure and affect the provision of electricity, water and sewerage systems. Rise in sea level and associated erosion threaten coastal industrial and residential areas and raise salinity levels, thereby changing the volume, timing and quality of surface water available for industrial and domestic use (Gasper et al. 2011).These impacts are not limited to the urban poor, but rich city-dwellers are better able to cope by protecting themselves from adversity through insurance ofvaluable property as well as their lives. Cities in West Africa that are most exposed to climate risk in the coastal lowland areas are Lagos and Port Harcourt in Nigeria (Abam et al. 2000), Cotonou in Benin and Banjul in The Gambia. According to Jallow et al. 1999, the city of Banjul could disappear in 50–60 years through coastal erosion and sea level rise, placing over 42,000 people at risk. Metropolitan Lagos is highly susceptible to flooding in the rainy season (Adelekan 2010). In Cotonou, Benin, the areas 6
most vulnerable to climate hazards such as coastal erosion comprise the first and fourth districts of Tokplégbé, Finagnon, Donatin, Akpakpa-Dodomey and JAK. One-tenth of Cotonou’s population, estimated at 94,425 from the 2002 census, is affected by coastal erosion (Dossou and Gléhouenou-Dossou 2007).
Gender, social differentiation and adaptation to climate change in the urban areas of West Africa Gender is an important aspect in all dimensions of urban climate changes, including agriculture, water, energy resources, and climate-related natural hazards. Studies have shown that culturally determined factorsplay major roles in households and society, women and girls have crucial roles to play in the development of sustainable cities under the advent of climate changein creating resilient urban livelihoods. Women and men have expressed coping strategies by diversifying their crops, investing human capital in the form of time and labour. In Niger, men regularly sell their livestock to sustain the household, while women retain their own livestock, and use livestock during natural hazards as a safety net for the household during natural hazards (Kristjanson et al. 2010). This example demonstrates interconnectivity between resilience, climate change impacts and gender differentiated roles. Therefore, to effectively address gender issues, it is important that climate risk management techniques incorporate gender differentiated groups are brought into play for appropriate climate adaptation strategies.
Rural-urban dynamics and climate change adaptation in West Africa Studies have shown that climate change impacts affect rural-urban interaction in a way that contributes to the vulnerability of populations (Okali et al. 2001). For example, in Aba, Nigeria, rural communities surrounding the town have contributed to the increasing number of migrants within the city as a result of declining agricultural yields which could be attributed to climate change. Aba is located the south-eastern part of Nigeria which is susceptible to soil erosion, and this affectsarable lands, contributing to the movement of young men and women to the city. The effect of this migration has been loss of capable men and women in the rural areas who could engage in agriculture and other crafts in response to climate change (Okali et al. 2012; Okali et al. 2001). This study confirms that as climate change impacts intensify the rate of environmentally-induced migration increases (Tacoli 2011). Developments in the urban centres also attract immigrants, for example in Accra (Rain et al. 2011), the majority of migrants settle 7
in the peri-urban fringes where house rents are less expensive and construction of housing uncontrolled. The dynamics of interaction between the rural and urban populations has significant effects on the over-stressed physical infrastructure, unplanned human settlements and waste management facilities in the urban areas. The experience of the study carried out in Aba shows how that city is ill-prepared to receive the migrating populations, and this often elevates the climate-related risks in the city (Okali et al. 2012).
4.
Policies related to Climate Change in the West Africa Urban Areas
4.1
Climate change adaptation policy initiatives in West African cities
Currently, no country in West Africa has a specific Urban Climate Change Adaptation Policy. Rather, most countries have is a National Climate Change Policy, National Climate Change Framework, National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and a National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA). Urban climate change adaption policies are climate change or environmental plans of action at the level of provinces or states, for example in Lagos, Bayelsa and Ondo States in Nigeria. Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal have dedicated National Climate Change Adaptation Strategies, Plans or Frameworks. On 12 September 2012, the Federal Executive Council of Nigeria officially approved a National Climate Change Policy and Response Strategy document (Okali et al. 2012). A Department of Climate Change has been established in the Federal Ministry of Environment to coordinate activities on climate change in the country (NEST 2011; Stern 2007). Ghana has also developed a National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and National Climate Change Policy as well as established a National Climate Change Committee (GMEST 2012). Niger has established a National Strategy and Action Plan for Climate Change and Variability.
4.2 Policy actors and networks involved in urban climate change adaptation in West Africa Adapting to climate change impacts is challenging and actions that are required are often multinational and from local to international, within public and private sectors. These stakeholders have been referred to as ‘communities of practice’ (De Vit and Parry 2011; Wenger 2006). Some of the stakeholders that are actively engaged in climate change adaptation in West Africa include the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), World Bank, Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), Global Change System for Analysis, Research and Training (START), Heinrich Böll Foundation, 8
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Food Programme (WFP) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Some of their networks include the AfricaAdapt Network, the Africa Partnership on Climate Change Coalition (APCCC) and the Climate Action Network – West Africa (CAN-WA). Government officials, research organizations, development specialists, sectoral experts and the business sector also participate in climate change adaptation programmes in the sub-region. West Africa does not have any organizations or networks specifically dedicated to urban climate change adaptation.
5. Gaps in Climate Change Adaptation Research and Policy in the West Africa Urban Sector Narrow scope of urban climate change adaptation research: Very few research activities have been
carried out specifically on climate change adaptation in the urban areas of West Africa. Evidence-based research activities were carried out on particular themes, including flooding, sea level rise and storm surge in coastal cities, droughts, food security, infrastructure damage from extreme events, sanitation, water demand and availability, urban biodiversity and air pollution. Research findings were reported on coastal cities, but there is little information on inland cities, except studies conducted on Aba, Nigeria and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. There is also a major evidence gap on the quantification of climate change impacts on urban energy usage, rural-urban migration, infrastructure (sea ports, roads, water utilities, energy utilities, and waste management systems.) and water resources. Furthermore, very few research activities were carried out on cost-benefit analysis of climate change impact studies on West African cities.
Advocacy on communicating and building awareness about climate risks: Only a few research
activities include mainstreaming adaptation measures into development plans and strategies (Osman-Elasha and Downing 2007). There is no synergy among the key stakeholders on implementation of adaptation programmes. Many agencies duplicate research programmes thus wasting resources. Most of the plans of action are also implemented without consideration for the development programmes Interconnectedness among different types of infrastructure: Another research gap identified is the
low level of research on the intricate interconnectedness among different types of infrastructure in the West Africa cities which are usually under conditions of stress and/or threat of climate change impacts. Urban centres provide excellent opportunities within which 9
the interdependence of infrastructure systems and the services they provide could be studied in relation to climate change adaptation. Since a larger concentration of the infrastructure system is found in the urban centres, they are usually vulnerable to the same climate stressor and damage. Gender and climate change adaptation research : Research on gender varies and is highly
contextual, based on the social and cultural norms within the country of interest in West Africa. Some research activities have been carried out on the impacts of climate change on vulnerable urban groups such as women and girls. Although the the results suggest that women seem to have suffered more negative impacts of climate change in terms of their assets and well-being, there are exceptions where men seem to have suffered more impacts than women. Consequently, more research is needed in this area before strong conclusions can be drawn. Green Cities: Many industries in the urban areas of West Africa are engaged in the production of
products with large carbon footprints. However, many of these are in the process of developing sustainability standards for their products in order to reduce levels of carbon emissions. Companies committed to this kind of change are very interested in tools that will help them measure the environmental benefits (reduction in footprints) of the changes they are making to their products as a result of environmental policies on climate change. Research is needed to develop tools which will help industrialists to measure their footprints in the cities and other areas surrounding them where their customers are concentrated. Other research priorities that should be carried out at the city level, include the following: (i) studies on energy efficiency and climate change, (ii) municipal solid and liquid waste assessment, (iii) urban agriculture and climate change, (iv) early warning systems, climate change impact risk assessment and mapping, (v) adaptation technology needs assessment and the need for strengthening institutions to effectively organise and manage city-scale adaptation strategies.
Urban climate change adaptation policy gap: the context: Very few policy documents such as
NAPAs, national communications, Climate Change Policies, National Climate Change Adaptation Plans and Frameworks address city-scale adaptation initiatives. Exceptions are Ghana’s National Climate Change Policy (GMEST 2012) and Niger’s NAPA documents. These countries have National Climate Change Adaptation Plans of Action that are mainstreamed around building resilience to climate change impacts in the cities. For example, Nigeria’s National Plan (NASPACCN) laid out strategies to discourage building and urban encroachment into vulnerable areas, high risk zones and low lying areas. In the same light, Ghana’s Climate Change Policy articulated issues of increased rural-urban migration that could add to the pressure on cities and urban services in a bid to find lasting solutions to these challenges (GMEST 2012). 10
6. Stakeholders and Opportunities for Collaboration in Research on Climate Change in the West Africa Urban Sector The variety of climate change adaptation stakeholders in West Africa include research institutes, training and education institutions (knowledge institutions), credit institutions, policy and regulatory bodies, private consultants, NGOs, insurance firms, private sector and public services delivery organizations (Agwu et al. 2011). This framework captures the complex relationships between diverse actors, processes of institutional learning and change, market and non-market institutions, public policy, poverty reduction and socioeconomic development in an urban setting. Four key elements which are central to the functioning of the system are (i) knowledge institutions, (ii) finance element, (iii) business sector and (iv) national governments. Knowledge Institutions: The role of knowledge institution in the proposed framework is to produce policy-relevant urban climate change adaptation research outputs as well as create awareness about opportunities for adaptation. They should also train students and support states or local governments on the issues of urban climate change adaptation. An example is the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD). Other key institutions dealing with climate data information include the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (Comité Inter-Etate pour la Lutte contre la Sécheresse au Sahel or CILSS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), French national meteorological service (Météo France), the Agro-Hydro-Meteorology (AGRHYMET) Regional Centre and the Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG) of the University of Cape Town. These organizations, as well as local universities, could collaborate on working with urban farmers to develop synergies in building resilient urban agriculture. Countries seeking to build resilient cities collaborate with international agricultural research institutions such as the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and AfricaRice; with UN bodies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO), UNEP and UNDP; and finally with international NGOs such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Wetlands International and Environnement et Développement pour le Tiers Monde (ENDA-TM). Financing institutions: These stakeholders provide funds for project execution as well as implementation of urban climate change adaptation projects. The main stakeholders in this category are GEF, UN-HABITAT, UNDP, START, the World Bank, Commercial Banks and the 11
African Development Bank (AfDB). The challenge with this category is the accessibility of funds. Only Senegal has successfully accessed the Adaptation Fund while Ghana has just submitted a project for funding. Business Sector:This sector includes all firms developing, producing and providing goods and services to build urban resilience. This stakeholder should relate with the knowledge institutions and invest in knowledge input from universities, research institutes and patent documents in order to create green goods and services in the cities. The private business sector should be interested in the development of university research and development agendas, especially that relating to climate change adaptation in the urban areas. National Governments: National governments should provide enabling policy environmentsfor efficient functioning of the business sector. Governments should also encourage the private sector to provide resilient urban infrastructure while providing critical infrastructure such as roads, water and low cost housing for the poor. This could be achieved through public-private partnerships. Furthermore, Governments should formulate pro-poor policies which allow the urban poor to afford climate change adaptation goods and services.
7.
Conclusion and Recommendations
7.1 Conclusions This study has explored urban climate change adaptation research activities and identified gaps in research and needs in the sub-region. It discussed the way urban climate change adaptation research has informed policy in the sub-region and outlined the link between countries and the regional economic bodies in West Africa. The review has thus provided a critical knowledge base for researchers to support research-based policy formulation for climate change adaptation in urban areas of West Africa. The state of knowledge of urban climate change adaptation
Urban areas harbor over 40 percent of West Africans and are already stressed due to unfavorable socio-economic conditions. High population density, large sections of the urban population living in slums, and urban expansion on particularly risky sites such as low-lying coastal areas and steep slopes which are susceptible to mudslides or landslides, aggravate climate change impacts on cities in the sub-region. Significant impacts of climate change in West Africa include (i) flooding of cities due to rise in sea level along the coastlines and (ii) damage to the infrastructure such as seaports, telecommunication and transportation 12
systems.(iii) rise in rural-urban migration which adds pressure to the already-over-utilised facilities in the urban areas;(iv) increased burdens on poor and vulnerable urban residents; and (v) stress on the capacity of governments to mainstream climate change strategies into development plans.
Urban climate change adaptation research and policy gaps
Very few research activities have been carried out specifically on climate change adaptation in the urban areas of West Africa. Most of the research activities were based on particular sectors or themes such as flooding, sea level rise (and storm surge) on coastal cities, droughts, food security, infrastructure damage from extreme events, sanitation, water demand and availability, urban biodiversity and air pollution. Research findings were on coastal cities and there is little information on inland cities. There is also a major evidence gap on the quantification of climate change impacts on urban energy usage, rural-urban migration, infrastructure (seaports, roads, water utilities, energy utilities, waste management systems, etc.) and water resources. Opportunities in urban climate change adaptation
There are many opportunities that urbanization could bring to the region within the context of climate change adaptation. Several national adaptation plans and policies could be used by the cities as background information for their adaptation plans. Urbanized coastal areas in the sub-region also have very rich biodiversity and this has attracted international donors whose mandate is to reduce vulnerability of such ecosystems to climate change impacts. Other opportunities include green building, green landscaping and increased uptake of research for adaptation policy.
7.2 Recommendations Policy options which are relevant to climate change adaptation cities in West Africa should respond to the issues that concern the state of knowledge, research and policy gaps as well as barriers and opportunities in urban climate change adaptation strategies in the sub-region. Policy options for consideration in West Africa Urban sector include the following: Improvement in the state of knowledge on urban climate change adaptation strategies

Urban climate change adaptation research activities in West Africa are very few. The knowledge institutions and other stakeholders should identify and conduct relevant urban climate change research in regional priority areas using the same protocol and 13
indicators. These activities should be conducted so that research outputs are translated to appropriate adaptation technologies and innovations that would make impacts on the most vulnerable groups in the urban areas. To minimize duplication and optimize expenditures, generating data about urban climate change action should be an integral part of the existing climate change units/departments. Departments should interact with and engage key stakeholders such as policymakers, knowledge institutions, the business sector, civil society and key players at the national and state levels.
Improvement in linkages among the key stakeholders
Governments should harness the potentials of West Africans in the diaspora to increase the pool of experts in urban climate change adaptation. This initiative will be of immense assistance,especially in the area of knowledge and technology dissemination.
Closing research and policy gaps
Few studies have been carried out on the impacts of climate change on urban agriculture despite the fact that it is key to sustainability of city-dwellers’ livelihoods. More research should be carried out in urban agriculture as well as integrating it into urban development policies. As an adaptation measure, the economies in the West Africa region should diversify from climate-sensitive sectorsto increase urban resilience. Governments should liaise with the capacity building centres with mandates to carry out climate change adaptation research at national and international levels on urban issues. This will provide opportunities to build climate change adaptation competence among categories of researchers at the local level. Institutions to participate in climate adaptation research should include the following: ATPS, IDRC, AAS, NACETEM, CSAG, UNFCCC, START, ACMAD, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), One UN Training Service Platform on Climate Change (UN CC:LEARN) and International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP). Improve model disaggregation to allow climate analysis at the city level. Governments should buy into initiatives at ACMAD, CSAG and ICTP, and more young climatologists, social scientists and other researchers from relevant disciplines with focus on urban climate change impacts in West Africa should be sponsored in PhD programmes. Governmentsshould also develop capacity on how to make policy decisions on climate change adaptation.
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Governments should mainstream gender issues into development plans of the adaptation programme. Climate change adaptation projects should integrate gender disaggregated data at various stages of the project in order to understand the effect of climate change impacts on gender. Practical ways of communicating climate change adaptation research outputs to policymakers should be institutionalized in each West African country. Policymakers and communication experts should be incorporated in climate change projects to ensure effective and wide scale dissemination of research resultsfor the transformation of climate change adaptation knowledge to actual products or service. Climate change adaptation plans and policies in the region should evolve intonational plans of action where all countries with shared vulnerabilities are classified and grouped together for funding and execution of projects to build urban resilience throughout West Africa. In response to the vulnerability of the urban poor, climate change adaptation programmes should be mainstreamed into urban land use policies. In order to make this effective, land use regulations should be enforced and appropriate penalties administered.
Overcoming the barriers and exploiting the opportunities
8.
Governments should explore opportunities for climate change adaptation in urban areas. Initiatives should include micro-insurance, low cost housing, sanitation, affordable healthcare and microfinance to help vulnerable urban communities build resilience against the effects of climate change. Areas of high population concentration with commercial activities in cities should be decentralized to reduce the pressure on infrastructure and critical utilities such as water and energy supplies. Municipal authorities should incorporate the costs of urban climate change adaptation projects into annual budgets. Countries should adopt a common protocol and indicators for methodologies to create aWest Africa Urban Sustainability Index which can be used in the development of City Adaptation Plans of Action and other policy documents.
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